Jubilant Boro boss Steve McClaren today hailed his spot-kick heroes by declaring: "You wouldn't have wanted anyone else to take that last kick than Gaizka Mendieta."

The Spanish midfielder stroked home Boro's fifth and final penalty to earn a dramatic Carling Cup fourth round victory against Everton last night.

Now Boro head for Tottenham in two weeks in buoyant mood, knowing that victory will earn them a place in the semi-finals.

It was fitting that Mendieta should finally kill off the Toffees last night following a marvellous individual display.

McClaren enthused: "All that extra work in training paid off.

"Our five penalty takers have been staying behind in training with Steve Round to practise their kicks.

"They lined up in exactly the same order last night that they do in training, and I thought every one of them took their penalties superbly.

"When I saw Mendieta striding forward to take that last kick, I felt sure that we were going through to the quarter-finals."

While Mendieta had the last say, it needed two exceptional saves from Mark Schwarzer to ensure it was Boro's night.

In a night of high drama, both sides gave their all in the battle to win the game without the need to resort to extra time or penalties.

But chances went begging and the match went into the extra period, with Schwarzer's remarkable 115th minute close-range save from Leon Osman ensuring a nail-biting shoot-out.

Then Schwarzer did it again, saving Everton's third penalty, from Osman, with his legs to put Boro in the driving seat.

McClaren said: "Mark made a fantastic reflex save from Osman.

"Then he did it again to save one of the penalties, and in the end that was all we needed from him."

It was amazing that neither side managed to score in normal play, McClaren adding: "It was a very open game and a great cuptie to watch.

"You have to give credit to Everton too. They had the bit between their teeth following their defeat on Saturday and they came here to play.

"I thought we stuck at it and worked hard to get there in the end.

"There were one or two mistakes from both sides, but you expect that in cupties."

McClaren operated with a 4-4-2 formation, giving Massimo Maccarone and Szilard Nemeth the chance to play together up front.

Maccarone had a couple of chances, but Boro's better efforts at goal came from Mendieta, in addition to his general contribution.

Everton boss David Moyes had no complaints about the result, but made it clear that he was unhappy with the decision, taken on police advice, to stage the shoot-out at the end of the ground populated solely by home fans.

But it was McClaren who was left to savour the prospect of a fifth round trip to White Hart Lane later this month.

He said: "We've got a good away record. It's a quarter-final and you're two away from Cardiff and one away from the semi-final, so the stakes are getting higher.

"We're excited and looking forward to it."

* BORO have been linked with an interest in Brazilian superstar Rivaldo, who has agreed his release from AC Milan in January.